Idaho experienced mild fire season for first time in years

national-interagency-fire-center

Experts say a cool summer and fewer human-caused blazes helped Idaho experience a mild wildfire season for first time in years.

Across the West, this summer’s wildfire season has been what University of Idaho climatologists called “a welcome reprieve” from recent record-setting fire years, when more than 10 million acres have burned nationwide each year.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, a little more than 4.3 million acres had burned across the country in 2019. As of last week, 516 fires had burned 280,000 acres in Idaho, or about half of the average acreage for the past five years.

Perhaps most noticeably, the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley and Treasure Valley experienced the best summertime air quality in years because of the decrease in smoke-producing fires across the region. Uof I researchers say statewide, summer temperatures were the coolest they’ve been since 2011, as triple-digit temperature days were fewer and farther between this year, and there were fewer lightning strikes.

However, officials say there’s often one year of lag between rainy years and intense fire seasons, meaning 2020 could bring more blazes to Idaho, thanks to the plentiful grasses and growth this year.

Fortunately, some fires this year were allowed to burn because of the lower-risk conditions, which helped naturally clear fuel loads. (Idaho Statesman)

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